South Bank

Don't think that London is just for adults waving flags at the Queen's celebrations or cheering on Olympians. This grand old lady of cities has much on offer for kids, as this teenager found out when carefully positioning herself between the upward water spouts on the South Bank. (Her mother was not impressed when she ran through them, though.)

Portobello Road Market

Don’t be deceived by its West London locale. Notting Hill may be one of the city’s poshest neighborhoods but all that is forgotten when it comes to its outdoor flea market.
Portobello Market is mainly known for its impressive collection of antiques but you can also shop for fresh food and score some unbeatable deals on clothing. I walked away with £5 dresses on more than one occasion.
To get here, take the Tube to Notting Hill Gate, which is on the District, Circle, and Central lines.

Brixton

If you are a David Bowie fan, you might already know that he was born in Brixton, East London.
Brixton, once known as a tough neighborhood (crime and riots) has been gentrified in the last few years by young middle class people who can't afford to live in London proper.
As part of a summer exhibition called The Many Faces of Bowie, at Opera Gallery, central London, the street artist James Cochran has painted Bowie's mural—inspired by the album cover of the Thin White Duke’s 1973 record Aladdin Sane.
But it's not only Bowie's mural that can be found in Brixton. In the street-market area and in some of the main streets, you can find more.

Causeway Coastal Route, Northern Ireland

The best drive in Northern Ireland, this is a dramatic 120-mile coastal route between the green Glens of Antrim on one side and the spectacular coastline with its cliffs, unusual rock formations such as the giant’s face (pictured, above) and Giant’s Causeway on the other. There are also mysterious ruins from the past, such as Dunluce Castle. The drive starts near Larne, north of Belfast, and goes right the way around the north coast, and can be done in one day or a few days – take your time and stop off at some of the scenic points, towns and villages along the way.

The Glens of Antrim

The nine Glens of Antrim, a series of lush green valleys opposite the Causeway coast, are another of Northern Ireland's most striking features. Each glen has its own forests, waterfalls and rivers. Glenariff is known as the Queen of the Glens and at Glenariff Forest Park you’ll find waymarked trails through woodlands, past rivers and waterfalls. Or follow the Glenarm Scenic Route (starting at the village of Glenarm), passing Glenarm Castle which has a walled garden and tearooms, along the way. The heritage village of Cushendall is another highlight.
Photo: NITB

Old Bushmills Distillery

This is where to find out how Irish whiskey is made, with a guided tour through the live production process from grain to glass at Ireland’s oldest working distillery, which got its licence in 1608. You can see everything from the malted barley being ground and mashed, to the maturing whiskey casks piled high – and find out about where the 'angel's share' of the whiskey really goes, before you sample your own share of the water of life.

Florence Court

The 18th-century estate at Florence Court is just the place when you or the family need to get out of the car and explore—and to imagine how the other half lived in centuries past. Grown-ups can take a guided tour through the house, which was once home to the Earls of Enniskillen and has excellent rococo plasterwork and Irish furniture on display. The younger (or young at heart) can set off outdoors and explore the walled garden, icehouse, sawmill or take one of the walking or cycle trails, all with a backdrop of mountains and forests. When you’ve all had enough exploring and fresh air (or if you just feel like hiding from the rest of the gang), take refuge in the tearoom, gift shop or bookshop.
Photo: NITB.

Marble Arch Caves

Glide into these caves by boat, to see the impressive stalactites and stalagmites that have formed in the limestone rock deep underground over millions of years ago. On a guided tour, you'll hear all about the subterranean caverns, stone pools and streams (there are lots of steps so some fitness is required). The whole area is a UNESCO site.
Photo: NITB

Ulster American Folk Park

I normally avoid experiences with the word 'folk' in them, but this is actually an interesting place to spend the day, popping in and out of the recreations of traditional thatched cottages from times past, plus emigrant sailing ships, recreations of traditional streets and even the log cabins of the American Frontier. You can chat to costumed characters along the way, who demonstrate traditional crafts and food and tell stories, a great way to bring history to life.

Queen's University

With its eye-catching gothic facade, as well as plenty of other listed buildings around its spacious campus, Queen's University is worth an hour or two’s exploring (you can take a self-guided walking tour with a map from the visitor's centre). Don't miss the special Narnia wardrobe door (Belfast was the birthplace of writer CS Lewis).
The Queen's area is also home to the Botanic Gardens, Ulster Museum and the Lyric Theatre, so there's plenty to do, and thanks to the large student population, the shops and restaurants in the Queen’s Quarter have a relaxed, bohemian vibe and won't bust the budget.

St George's Market

This is a vibrant indoor market with everything from tasty food stalls (hot and cold) to crafts, jewelry, and often live music, adding to the atmosphere and making it a great place to spend a couple of hours on a weekend day. If you only do one thing in Belfast, make this it.
Photo: NITB.

Ulster Museum

Bring all the family to see dinosaur exhibits, Egyptian mummies and art galleries, as well as interactive science, art and history exhibitions. It's a great building to spend time in – but don't miss the adjacent Botanic Gardens.

St Anne's Cathedral

Centred around St Anne’s Cathedral, the narrow streets of this city quarter are thriving with restaurants, pubs and arts venues – stop here for food, drink or a cultural outing at the MAC arts venue in St Anne’s Square, which has three galleries, two theatres and a dance studio.

Linen Hall Library

This is a great place to take refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city centre. Entry to the city’s oldest library (which dates from 1788) to browse the collections is free, and there’s also a great café and regular exhibitions.

W5

Otherwise known as Whowhatwherewhenwhy, W5 is a fun interactive discovery centre in the Titanic Quarter. Beat the lie detector, touch the sound wall, build a race car or robot, play invisible instruments and boggle your mind with optical illusions. It’s designed for kids, but big people will love it just as much.
Photo: NITB.

Ulster Folk & Transport Museum

A short drive from the city in Cultra, this museum not only has an impressive collection of vehicles from past times, including trams, steam trains and buses, but there are recreations of thatched cottages, farms, schools and shops from over 100 years ago – complete with costumed characters. There’s also an impressive Titanic exhibition in the museum, with authentic artefacts. The museum is big, with a large outdoor section, so leave yourself a couple of hours take it all in.
Photo: NITB.

Princess Diana Memorial Playground

When you've had your fill of dinosaur bones, mummies and museums, let the kids run wild in this Peter Pan themed playground at the edge of Kensington Gardens. A pirate ship floats in a sea of sand while squealing children shimmy up the mast or poke their heads through portholes. Kids follow grassy, hidden pathways to the wigwam settlement and wear themselves out on the tree fort rope ladders and bridges. In the summer, fountains spew water into puddles perfect for splashing away an afternoon while weary parents sit sipping coffee from the nearby cafe.
The playground is only for children accompanied by adults. It fills to capacity quickly and queues to enter aren't uncommon during holidays.

Rainforest Cafe

London

Shop

Pets Paradise

Ofelia Sippa

Travel with kids in large cities can be exhausting after long days of walking. But when you enter Rainforest Cafe in the center of London, it's feels as if you are in a completely different place! My kid fell in love with all the pets around him, and he wanted to take them all!

Lough Neagh - Northern Ireland

Aghalee

DoEat

Lough Neagh, for a Winter Walk

Sarah Papali'i

Walk the surrounds of the largest lake in Ireland and Britain. In the winter it's refreshing and bright early in the morning. There are also a couple of cafes when you need to thaw out after exercising.

Dunluce Castle

Bushmills

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Daydreaming at Dunluce Castle

Conor Harrington

Northern Ireland is often cold, wet and gloomy. Yet on this Sunday morning, the sun was shining and the majestic Dunluce Castle was on display. I loved running through the castle grounds imagining what life was like for the people who once lived in that very castle. It's a beautiful landmark and has even more beautiful views of the Northern Irish coast from the edges of the castle. I took this shot from the side of the hill in which the castle is built into. It's a must-see for any traveler!

54 Shore Rd

Truro

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An artist in his element

Ron Bartizek

Several years ago we were captivated by the colorful canvasses painted by Robert Cardinal, which we saw in a Provincetown gallery. So much so that my artist wife took the liberty of doing her own version of a Cardinal depiction of Highland Light. Then, in September 2012, we found ourselves with some time after lunch in Provincetown and meandered down the road that runs past his studio. We stopped, it was open (it had been closed the prior year) and we stepped in. For several minutes we had the place to ourselves, as he was elsewhere on the property. We admired the large canvas with only a pencil sketch that was in progress, looked at all his painting tools and were intrigued by the bookshelves that covered an entire wall.
When he appeared, he could not have been more gracious, showing us around the rooms where many canvasses were hung and describing his approach to his art, which had evolved since we saw that lighthouse painting years earlier. The highlight, though, was when he took down some of his books, a collection he had gathered over his entire career, and pointed out some of his favorite pages. Truly an unforgettable moment with an important but down-to-earth figure in America's contemporary art scene.

University of Oxford Botanic Garden

Oxford

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May Blooms in the Oxford

Veronica Hackethal

The Oxford Botanic Garden lies at the end of High Street, across from Magdalen College. Tulips and other flowers burst into bloom in May, which is when I visited. Beside the garden there is a pathway that leads to Christchurch meadow. Beyond that lies the Thames River (called The Isis in Oxford), where you can see Oxford crew teams practice.
For history, hours and visiting information: http://www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk/

Whistling Shop

This dark, downstairs bar intimately recreates the gin palaces of the early Victorian Era. And while the decor is faithful to the era, the cocktails offer a modern twist on the old classics: there's even an in-house steampunkish laboratory where the mixologists create their intriguing concoctions. "Drunk For a Penny, Dead Drunk for Two Pence, Straw for Free," offers the menu, with a wry wink to the promises made to customers at the height of the gin craze.

Carom at Meza

Carom at Meza has opened a gin garden where you can not only sip delicious Tanqueray cocktails, but forage for your own ingredients. Dotted around the colonial-style interior, under the conservatory skylights, are pots of herbs and spices that you can gather and present to the bartender, who will whizz you up a cocktail of all your favorite flavors. I highly recommend the Tanqueray Ten Infusion cocktail.

Department of Coffee and Social Affairs

The guys at the Coffeesmiths Collective don't just love their coffee, they love people too. They've got a few different coffee stores—including Speakeasy Espresso Bar at Carnaby St, and Tonic near Regent Street—but this one's the mothership, and it's a low-fi yet thoroughly pleasant place to hang out. It's a great place to know, halfway between Farringdon and Holborn, and worth visiting early afternoon when the Leather Lane market's still on. Oh, and the custard tarts are great.

Tina, We Salute You

Tina's is a tiny place. In fact, it only has two tables, so be prepared to get chummy with your neighbors. But it's absolutely worth the visit to this trendy Dalston haunt. Both for the flat whites—the house speciality made lovingly by the Kiwi owners—and for the breakfasts, the stuff of a perfect weekend brunch. The breakfast pide is a great option if you're battling a hangover and need some vitamins; the pancakes are a delicious luxury at any time. Oh, and on the odd occasion, they'll get themselves a licence and set up as a temporary cocktail bar. Tina: We salute you.

Caravan King's Cross

Caravan coffee is some of the strongest I've had in my life. Even inveterate coffee drinkers come away from Caravan with a slight tremor and a tendency to talk too fast. But if you think you can hack it, then get along to this popular Kings Cross haunt, one of the first and best to move into the area as part of the area's major redevelopment. If I were you, I'd wash it down with a large glass of water and a tamarind bun, the perfect thing to take the edge off.